Attracting the brightest and most talented in to construction

International construction services company ISG, with an office in Ipswich, is taking a major step to tackle the skills and recruitment crisis facing the constructio industry in the years ahead.
ISG and partner WJEC are launching new professional qualifications, the UK's first Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice (PCP)

ISG

ISG, which has offices in Ipswich and its partner, WJEC have taken a major step in tackling the looming skills and recruitment crisis facing the construction industry, with the House of Commons launch of the UK’s first Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice.

International construction services company ISG, with an office in Ipswich, is taking a major step to tackle the skills and recruitment crisis facing the constructio industry in the years ahead.
ISG and partner WJEC are launching new professional qualifications, the UK's first Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice (PCP)

This academic course is aimed at high-achieving students, who would normally focus on core STEM subjects, and has the dual purpose of transforming outdated perceptions of the industry and preparing young people for progression into Level 4 built environment qualifications and beyond.

The new PCP qualification is worth up to 56 UCAS points (the equivalent of an A-Level), and provides a contemporary insight into modern construction management practices, encompassing the technologies, behaviours and innovation that support the delivery of world-class buildings.

Teaching modules include an introduction to Building Information Modelling (BIM), the use of drones, laser scanning technology, and AI and VR in the built environment, providing young people with a realistic insight into a world beyond the construction site itself; revealing the wide-ranging roles and functions that work collaboratively to positively transform our environment.

There is a skills crisis in construction. There is an ageing workforce and the sector needs to train 158,000 workers from 2018 to 2022 just to keep up with demand.

ISG is a major player in the construction industry, employing 2,800 staff globally.

Paul Cossell, ISG’s CEO said: “The PCP qualification is our response to engaging the brightest and most talented young people at an earlier age, with a Level 3 qualification that can sit alongside and complement existing STEM subjects.

“Students are given the confidence to explore contemporary construction practice and earn transferable UCAS points, which is an essential element as this unlocks the barriers that some may feel towards specialisation at an early age.

“This is the real game-changer – a qualification that accurately reflects our industry, but doesn’t negatively penalise those who are interested but ultimately find that it is not for them in the long term.”

Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC) Group of Colleges is the PCP diploma’s first partner and sponsor.

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